With innovative technology and extensive know-how:
Bosch paves the way for automated driving

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In the years to come, automated driving will become a reality. Even today, assistance systems support drivers in reaching their destinations, safely and comfortably. Highly and fully automated vehicles will soon be visible on country roads, freeways and even in complex urban traffic. Bosch is working intensively to make this vision of the future an everyday occurrence and already assumes a leading role in this area. The innovative leadership displayed by Bosch covers all key areas of automated driving: from perception of the vehicle’s surroundings through artificial intelligence to the actual driving process.

In principle, an automated vehicle needs to have the same skills as a human driver. Firstly, it has to be able to perceive and interpret its surroundings (“Sense”). For this, it uses the surround sensors just like humans use their senses. Secondly, it needs to process information received and plan its driving strategy (“Think”). This task is undertaken by the vehicle computer using software and intelligent algorithms. And thirdly, it needs to use its powertrain, steering and braking power to move its wheels in such a way that the planned driving strategy is put into practice (“Act”). To this effect, the wheels of a car are its limbs while the sub-systems for accelerating, steering and braking represent its muscles. Electronic lines are the nerve pathways sending impulses in the form of data to the sub-systems and stimulating action.

With its solutions and expertise in each of these three areas (Sense, Think and Act), Bosch is ideally positioned to gradually revolutionize mobility with automated technology.

arrive more relaxed

In automated mode, drivers can use the time gained to relax, work, communicate or be entertained.

be safer on the road

Automated vehicles never tire and can perceive critical situations much sooner and avoid them better than a human being.

drive more efficiently

Automated vehicles can cover distances in a much more coordinated manner and thus save fuel.

improved flow of traffic

Automated vehicles can drive close to vehicles in front, thereby optimally utilizing the capacity of busy roads.

The direction in which the mobile world is going

The first levels of automated driving are already a reality and are paving the way for mobility of the future.

Imagine you could use your commute to work in your car to have a relaxing breakfast and read the paper. You no longer get caught in traffic jams and your car automatically brings you wherever you want to go. And even more safely than is the case today as automated vehicles can significantly reduce accident figures. They can perceive and avoid critical situations much sooner than a human driver can. They reliably adhere to the traffic regulations and never get tired. Even in an emergency, they react much faster than a human driver can.

In combination with increasing connectivity, mobility will change even more fundamentally: when automated vehicles communicate with each other directly or through the cloud, they can cover their routes in an optimally coordinated manner and thus avoid traffic jams. Traffic flows better and the available spaces are utilized better. Automated driving, therefore, not only improves the transport capacity of roads; it also reduces fuel consumption and emissions.

Sense, Think, Act: What automated cars need to be capable of

For automated vehicles to drive as well as – or even better than – human drivers, they need to have three basic skills: They need to perceive and interpret their surroundings, use this information to derive a suitable driving strategy and then implement it reliably and safely.

This process of perceiving (Sense), processing (Think) and taking action (Act) demands a highly-developed combination of hardware and software. With its portfolio, Bosch covers all of the requisite technologies and consistently develops them for even higher levels of automation in the future.

Sense

Automated cars perceive and interpret their surroundings

The surround sensors provide all the information used by the automated car for perception of its entire surroundings. In combination with high-resolution digital maps, they also ensure that it always knows its exact position. The sensors also keep a permanent eye on the driver and examine whether he or she is capable of taking control if necessary. Using connected services, the vehicle even knows about road conditions ahead and can adapt its driving behavior accordingly, e.g. in the event of icy conditions. Already today, Bosch has the requisite technologies for perception of the vehicle’s surroundings and has started volume production of many of them in its driver assistance systems.

Automated vehicles learn and plan ahead

Automated cars decide in real time which driving strategy is the best in order to resolve the current traffic situation and reach their destinations. This task is assumed by the vehicle computer using the interpreted surround sensor data processed by the software. By using artificial intelligence in the software development the vehicle learns to better understand its environment. The software distinguishes between various objects such as pedestrians, cyclists, buildings or other vehicles and familiarizes itself with their respective characteristic behavior. This enables the vehicle to make reliable forecasts and to drive safely and proactively.

Automated vehicles drive safely to their destinations

The central vehicle computer calculates the values used by the vehicle’s powertrain, braking or steering system to implement individual driving maneuvers such as changing lanes, turning off or driving around bends. What direction needs to be steered in? How much acceleration or braking is necessary? Particularly high demands apply during automated driving for safety-critical systems and components which are designed redundantly for this purpose: If one of the systems is no longer able to fulfill its function, this is assumed by a back-up system. Bosch already avails of redundant system solutions for steering and braking.

Milestones of automated driving

The complex demands associated with automated driving cannot be managed by a single company. That is why Bosch has concluded strategic partnerships with other companies and initiated numerous pilot and research projects. Such joint commitment covers many areas of automated driving and ranges from the development of high-performance camera sensors and connected onboard systems through the generation of detailed digital maps to an entirely autonomous driving system for the city.

While some projects are based on technology already available today, such as sensors, others are clearly aligned toward the development of future technologies. All partnerships concluded ensure synergies in development and help to get automated vehicles onto the road, swiftly and safely.

Bosch, Vodafone and Huawei enable smart cars to communicate with each other

Bosch and its partners are testing communication between cars and their surroundings using 5G mobile telephony.

Intelligent mobile telephony can help prevent potentially dangerous driving situations from becoming even more critical. Known as Cellular-V2X (vehicle to everything), the technology makes it possible for a car to communicate with other vehicles and its surroundings through mobile telephony. Since February 2017, Bosch, Vodafone and Huawei have been performing trials of the new, high-performance technology – the first companies in Europe to do so. The A9 freeway in Bavaria is the location for the field tests with the first 5G test modules. Direct communication between vehicles provides information about what is happening in parts of an intersection not visible to the driver, or on the freeway beside or behind the driver’s own car. The new mobile telephony system thus paves the way for automated driving.

Bosch to acquire stake in map provider HERE

High-definition digital maps are a key requirement for automated driving.

Bosch is acquiring five percent of HERE Technologies, a global provider of digital mapping and location services. This acquisition gives a boost to Bosch’s services business. It also helps HERE take a further step toward its goal of becoming a global provider of data-based real-time location services to customers both inside and outside the automotive industry. Open platforms for all customers will be the focal point of collaboration between Bosch and HERE, both in non-automotive as well as automotive domains, and particularly where increasingly connected and automated mobility is concerned. High-definition maps are a requirement for self-driving cars.

Bosch and TomTom create a map that uses radar signals for automated driving

Breakthrough in the development of high-definition maps for automated driving

Bosch and the Dutch map and traffic information provider TomTom have achieved a breakthrough in the development of high-definition maps for automated driving. The supplier of technology and services has become the first worldwide to create a localization layer using radar signals – which will be indispensable for maps like these. Bosch’s “radar road signature” is made up of billions of individual reflection points. These are formed everywhere that radar signals hit – for example, on crash barriers or road signs – and reproduce the course a road takes. Automated vehicles can use the map to determine with centimeter precision their exact location in a lane.

Bosch works with partner on new camera technology for automated cars

Bosch and Sony collaborate to develop innovative camera sensors.

Suddenly dazzled, vision restricted: This is something drivers experience regularly when driving on a sunny day when the sun is low in the sky. Briefly driving blind is often also required due to the glare when driving out of a tunnel on a bright day. Changing or poor lighting conditions provide a challenge not only for the human eye, but also for video sensors such as those required for driver assistance systems and automated driving. To make these sensors better, Bosch and Sony Semiconductor Solutions have agreed a cooperation. Together, the two companies aim to develop a highly-innovative camera technology that will enable cars to reliably sense their surroundings even in difficult lighting conditions.

Bosch launches its automated driving initiative in China

Bosch cooperates with Chinese companies to make automated driving possible in China.

In order to get automated driving off the ground in China, a promising concept is still needed for how to generate high-precision, up-to-the-minute maps. Bosch wants to change this and has signed a collaboration agreement with the Chinese internet group Baidu and the map providers AutoNavi and NavInfo. Together, the four partners are working on a solution that will let them use information collected by Bosch’s radar and video sensors in vehicles to generate and update maps. Automated vehicles will use the data collected by Bosch sensors to determine their own location, which is essential for automated driving. This data will be compatible with the three partners’ map data.

Bosch and Daimler are working together on a fully-automated, driverless system

Bosch and Daimler bundle their competences to introduce self-driving cars to cities within ten years.

Bosch and Daimler have agreed to set up a development alliance that aims to make a system for fully-automated and driverless vehicles a reality on city streets by the start of the next decade. The objective is the joint development of software and algorithms for an autonomous driving system. The project will take the comprehensive vehicle expertise of Daimler – the world’s leading premium-class automaker – and combine it with the systems and hardware expertise of Bosch, the world’s biggest automotive supplier. The synergies that arise as a result will be channeled into making this technology ready for production as early as possible.

Research projects

Bosch initiates, heads and supports various research projects in order to create the technical basics for automated driving and to test various concepts at an early stage.

PEGASUS - The project for the establishment of generally accepted quality criteria, tools and methods as well as scenarios and situations

Paving the way for highly automated and thus for a safer, more secure and comfortable driving by mid-2019 – this is the objective Bosch and 16 additional project partners pursue within the scope of the PEGASUS joint project, promoted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Within this framework, Bosch is working on defining standards in the field of testing and experimenting with automated driving functions and vehicle systems in simulation, on test stands and in real environments.

The project for the establishment of generally accepted quality criteria, tools and methods as well as scenarios and situations for the release of highly automated driving functions (PEGASUS) has the final aim to ensure and facilitate a fast introduction of automated driving into the market.

CONCORDA Project (Connected Corridor for Driving Automation)

What are the requirements European motorways have to meet in order to set the course for automated driving and truck platooning? Within the scope of the CONCORDA (Connected Corridor for Driving Automation) project, Bosch is working on answering this question. The main objective is to identify the challenges and potential of hybrid, secure and safe communication and digital infrastructures. Based on this, solutions for the vehicle’s environment perception can be modelled. Moreover the project contributes to a more accurate and reliable localization of the vehicle.

The CONCORDA project uses common application specifications as a basis, which will be updated in an iterative process and in cooperation with the platform C-Roads. This will not only lead to an improvement of existing standards, but also to an elaboration of new ones.

Test sites used for CONCORDA are located in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the MEC-View project pursues the objective of automated driving in complex urban traffic scenarios, e.g. automatically entering a priority road. MEC-View strives for safer and more efficient automated driving in urban traffic.

Automated vehicles are equipped with a variety of sensor systems such as cameras and radar sensors providing a full 360-degree surround view. However, the vehicle is unable to detect a cyclist behind a truck at a crossing or a pedestrian coming around a corner.

In the future, local councils will install video cameras or other sensors at street lights and sites which are of importance for local traffic situations. The MEC-View project uses their data to make automated driving accessible in urban environments.

Partners of the joint research project coordinated by Bosch include the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Ulm, Daimler, Nokia, Osram, TomTom and IT-Designers. The City of Ulm acts as an associated partner.

Ko-HAF research initiative

Bosch has joined forces with a number of other suppliers, automakers, and public-sector partners to launch the “cooperative highly automated driving” (Ko-HAF) research initiative, which aims to push forward the development of automated driving. The publicly funded project will tackle the challenges of highly automated driving, in which drivers no longer need to be constantly vigilant. But for this to happen, technical precautions are necessary. Within the framework of the Ko-HAF project, Bosch has assumed primary responsibility for developing a backend solution for collecting and making available such information about a vehicle’s current surroundings, including the traffic infrastructure.

Industrial, administrative, and research partners

The consortium behind the Ko-HAF research initiative is made up of automakers, automotive suppliers, and highway administration and research partners. With total funding of 36.3 million euros, Ko-HAF is a large and strategically important project designed to drive forward progress on one of the biggest trends in the automotive industry. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is supporting the project with 16.9 million euros in funding as part of its “New vehicle and systems technology” program. The Ko-HAF project is scheduled to run until November 2018.